Translation Aid

A Practical Language
Translation Aid for Health Care Professionals

We developed a practical tool for use by doctors, nurses and other
allied health care professionals when they encounter a patient who
does not speak English, especially when a translator is not immediately
available.

To use this, simply use the pull down menu to select the language
you need, and then either print out the 4 pages, or use them on the
computer screen. You can link these files to a desktop. There is no
charge for the use of this tool.

The translation list contains about 165 commonly used words and short-phrases
for the 15 most commonly spoken languages in Ontario. We asked persons
working in the health care field to phonetically translate these words
into English. This means that each key word/phrase is written in English,
read out loud in English, but as it sounds in the native language.

While we have done our best to make sure that the translations were
done correctly, we cannot assume responsibility for errors that may
exist, such as omission of important words, or incorrect translation
or pronunciation of certain words. We also recommend contacting a patient's
family member or friend, or finding a translator, when detailed information
is required, such as patient consent for a procedure, or determining
the nature of a complex patient problem. We hope that you can provide
us with feedback to make this better.